[ad_1]
Panama City-Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford says he supports Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to allow Florida residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit.
DeSantis signed HB 543 on Monday. This eliminates the license requirement to conceal and carry weapons and firearms in most public places in the state. The Florida Senate voted in favor of the bill about a week ago when he voted 27-13.
“I fully support the Constitution and the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment does not allow citizens to own firearms,” Ford said. “It’s basically a citizen’s right and it shouldn’t be violated,” he said.
“It is a declaration to governments that they will not violate the natural right of people to keep and bear arms.”
New invoice:Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a new unauthorized carry bill. Here’s what this means:
Fighting Crime:Bay County Law Enforcement Plans Special Events Zone to Reduce Spring Break Chaos
Concealed carry:Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly signs unauthorized carry bill within hours of sitting at desk
What is the basis for the bill and when does it come into effect?
HB 543, scheduled to go into effect on July 1, allows licensed persons to carry firearms without a concealed weapons license, which Florida residents receive after passing both a background check and a firearms training course. To do.
If you travel to one of the 24 states that require a permit and have a reciprocal agreement with Florida, you can continue to use the same permit. Her three-day waiting period for purchasing firearms is also waived for those with a license. According to Ford, this won’t change with the bill.
He said anyone carrying a concealed weapon under the bill would be required to carry an identification card or driver’s license.
“You basically don’t need a government permit to carry a firearm because it’s a natural right,” Ford said.
Does this mean that anyone in Florida can carry concealed weapons?
Only persons eligible for a concealed license may carry concealed weapons under HB 543. This means you must be at least 21 years of age or be a law enforcement officer, corrections officer, or member of the armed forces.
Also, those convicted of a felony, dishonorably discharged, convicted of a mental disorder, unknowingly committed to medical treatment, a misdemeanor conviction of domestic violence, There are also restrictions on persons with or other conditions recognized by the state.
Carrying a concealed firearm when it is prohibited to own a firearm is a third-degree felony.
“If you’re not convicted of a felony or other factor, yes, you can carry a concealed firearm in Florida,” Ford said. “I support it. I don’t think law-abiding citizens should be punished with the requirement to get a concealed weapons permit just because there are people who commit crimes and break the law.” increase.”
Could this have a negative impact on local law enforcement?
Ford said he doesn’t believe HB 543 will spur an increase in crime.
He’s also not worried that the bill will create a large wave of new people who carry concealed firearms, even if there is no formal process to prevent law-abiding citizens from carrying concealed firearms.
Ford believes that the majority of Florida residents who want to legally carry concealed weapons already have concealed weapons licenses.
“I don’t know if that number will go up that much,” Ford said. It’s troublesome, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go if you want to carry it.”
Where in Florida can I hide my carry under HB 543?
HB 543 allows people to conceal and carry firearms in most public areas, but there are some places where it remains illegal to possess a firearm. Also this:
- Annoying place as defined in s. 823.05 (Places that endanger the health of the community, “clearly harm the morals or manners” of the community, or “embarrass the community” such as brothels, illegal gambling halls, designated massage parlors, etc.) (including a kind of open term) wherever criminal organization activities take place
- Police, sheriff and highway patrol stations
- detention facility, prison or jail
- any court
- Any court (but the judge can decide if the weapon is stashed or someone else can)
- at any polling station
- A meeting of the governing body of the county, public school district, municipality or special district
- a meeting of Congress or a legislative committee;
- School, college, or professional athletic meet not related to firearms
- Elementary and junior high school facilities or administrative buildings
- any career center
- Anywhere on the premises whose primary purpose is to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises
- Unless Licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member and the weapon is a stun gun or non-lethal electric weapon or device designed for defensive purposes only and does not fire darts or projectiles; , university facilities.
- Inside passenger terminals and airport sterile areas (unless wrapped for shipment checked as baggage)
- Where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law
Why is the bill controversial and what are the opposing views?
In a press release Monday, officials from Giffords, Florida, a gun violence prevention group led by former Congressman Gabriel Giffords, said DeSantis signing HB 543 was “a dark day for Florida.”
A study in release notes found that weakening public carriage laws led to a 13% to 15% increase in violent crime and an 11% increase in handgun homicides.
The bill also states that concealed carry requires “zero hours of training.” In Florida, it takes 1,200 hours of training to get a license to cut hair, 500 hours to get a license to be a massage therapist, and 240 hours to get a license to be a manicurist.
“With Governor DeSantis in the pocket of the gun lobby, our children and communities will be less safe,” GIFORDS Florida Senior Counsel and former Congressman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said in a release. “We know unauthorized cell phone bans will lead to an increase in gun violence. We hold Governor DeSantis accountable for his egregious actions.”
Brandon Girod, CA Bridges, James Call and Thao Nguyen of USA TODAY NETWORK contributed to this report.
[ad_2]
Source link